President Joe Biden wants to put a spotlight on the spike in food prices from Russia's invasion of Ukraine when he travels to an Illinois farm to emphasize how U.S. agricultural exports can relieve the financial pressures being felt worldwide.

The war in Ukraine has disrupted the supply of that country's wheat to global markets, while also triggering higher costs for oil, natural gas and fertilizer. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said its food price index in April jumped nearly 30% from a year ago, though the index did decline slightly on a monthly basis. Americans are also bearing some pain as food prices are up 8.8% from a year ago, the most since May 1981.

The trip to Illinois on Wednesday is an opportunity for Biden to tackle two distinct challenges that are shaping his presidency. First, his approval has been dogged by high inflation and his visit will coincide with the release of the May consumer price index, which economists say should show a declining rate of inflation for the first time since August.

But much more broadly, it's an opportunity to reinforce America's distinct role in helping to alleviate the challenges caused by the war in Ukraine. The trip follows a similar pattern as Biden's recent visit to an Alabama weapons factory highlighted the anti-tank Javelin missiles provided by the U.S. to Ukraine.

"He's going to talk about the support we need to continue to give to farmers to help continue to produce more and more domestically," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday. "Just as we are providing weapons, we are going to work on doing what we can to support farmers to provide more wheat and other food around the world."

The president noted in remarks Tuesday about inflation that Ukraine has 20 million metric tons of wheat and corn in storage that the U.S. and its allies are trying to help ship out of the country. This would help to address some supply issues, though challenges could persist.

Several House Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, met with Biden on Tuesday after having visited Ukraine. They warned that the food shortage meant the consequences of the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin would extend well beyond Ukrainian borders to some of the world's poorest nations.

"It's going to result in a hunger crisis, much worse than anybody anticipated," Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern following the White House meeting.

An analysis this month for the center-right American Enterprise Institute by Joseph Glauber and David Laborde noted that countries in the Middle East and North Africa are most likely to suffer from the higher prices caused by grain shortages.

There are limits to how much wheat the U.S. can produce to offset any shortages. The Agriculture Department estimated in March that 47.4 million acres of wheat were planted this year, an increase of just 1% from 2021. This would be the fifth-lowest amount of acres dedicated to wheat in records that go back to 1919.

Biden will be traveling with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Illinois. After the president speaks at the farm, he will go to Chicago to speak at a convention for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

What we know about the July 4 parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois

Updated: 9:49 AM EDT Jul 5, 2022

At least six people died and 30 were wounded in a shooting at a July Fourth parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Here's what we know and don't know about the shooting. What we know:Six people have been killed Police have identified a person of interest as Robert Crimo III, a 22-year-old who lives in the area, according to police.Police arrested the Crimo just before 7 p.m. CST in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb near Highland Park.Police believe the shooter fired on the parade from a rooftop using a rifle that was recovered at the scene. Police say they believe there is only one shooter.Some of the victims have been identified. Nicolas Toledo was in his late 70s and visiting from Mexico when he was shot. He died at the scene, his granddaughter told the Chicago Sun-Times. Also killed was Jacki Sundheim, a lifelong congregant and “beloved” staff member at nearby North Shore Congregation Israel, which announced her death on its website. What we don't know: Police have not said whether or not they are aware of the shooter's motive.Police have only identified the weapon as a high-powered rifle.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A 10-year-old girl from Indiana has died after falling at a popular Illinois hiking spot located within the Shawnee National Forest.

According to multiple news outlets, the child was at the Garden of the Gods on Friday with her family when she fell 100 feet.

The Southern Illinoisan reported that the child suffered multiple injuries and was flown to a nearby hospital, where she later died.

In a statement posted Sunday on Facebook, North Daviess Community Schools identified the girl as Everly Montgomery.

The school said she was entering the fourth grade.

According to the statement, her mother also teaches at the school.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of our elementary teacher, Mrs. Montgomery, whose daughter Everly passed away following a tragic accident on Friday," the school said. "Everly was an incoming fourth-grader at ND Elementary. Please continue to pray for comfort and peace for her entire family."

According to her obituary at Anderson-Poindexter Funeral Homes, Montgomery "loved riding her bicycle to the local library."

GURNEE, Ill. — An amusement park in Illinois was closed early Sunday after three people were injured in a shooting in the parking lot.

According to Six Flags Great America, the victims were injured after shots fired from a single vehicle, which immediately drove away.

"Park security and on-site Gurnee Police Department Substation officers responded immediately and law enforcement is investigating," park officials said.

This evening, three people were injured outside the park when shots were fired from a single vehicle. The vehicle immediately drove away. Park security and on-site Gurnee Police Department Substation officers responded immediately. Law enforcement is investigating.

— Six Flags Great America (@SFGreat_America) August 15, 2022

Gurnee Police said a 17-year-old boy from Aurora, Illinois, suffered a thigh wound and a 19-year-old woman from Appleton, Wisconsin, suffered a leg wound.

The third victim suffered a shoulder injury but declined transport to the hospital, police said.

"Based on the initial investigation, a white sedan entered the Six Flags parking lot and drove toward the front entrance of the theme park," Gurnee Police said in a statement. "The suspects exited the vehicle and began shooting toward another individual in the parking lot. The suspects got back in the white sedan and quickly left the area."

"The shooting this evening was not a random act and appeared to be a targeted incident that occurred outside the park," police said. "This was not an active shooter incident inside the park."

Park officials told the Associated Press that the park was closed early Sunday but reopened as scheduled Monday morning.

The names of the victims and details about the suspects were not immediately released, the news outlet reported.

Marcella Dake spent a combined seven months in jail before the Bail Project paid to have her released and the possession and assault charges she was facing ultimately dropped.    

"It made me feel not so good about myself. You know, you're not doing anything. It just felt like I was a bad person because I was in jail," said Dake. "Are you innocent until proven guilty? Because they treat you like a prisoner, you know, and they shouldn't."

Dake’s story is a common one — spending weeks, months or years in jail waiting on a court date because you can’t afford to bail yourself out.  

But over the last several years, bail reform has picked up steam across the country.  

Some courts in New York, Washington D.C. and Illinois have all experimented with reforms — sometimes controversial — that have allowed more defendants to go free while awaiting trial. The reforms have been fiercely debated with opponents claiming they increase crime.   

"Bail reform has to be changed, it’s ridiculous," said Patrick Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association. 

And advocates say it finally takes an unjust burden off the poor and helps prevent pushing people into a tailspin of lost jobs and broken families.

"All Illinoisans will live in a safer more just state with this law on the books," said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Here in Houston, a federal lawsuit forced Harris County, the largest county in Texas, to take on misdemeanor bail reform in 2017. 

And while the reform was and still is controversial, a new study claims the reforms not only reduced pre-trial jail time for defendants but also increased public safety.   

Paul Heaton from the University of Pennsylvania was the lead author on the study. Heaton focused on those newly released individuals. 

"In no cases, is there any evidence that crime goes up," said Heaton. 

SEE MORE: Amended Autopsy: Black Man Died Due To Sedative, Restraint

A federal judge required county judges to release any individuals charged with misdemeanors who would ordinarily qualify for bail.  

"So what would you expect to see in the data, if it were true that releasing people leads to more crime. We should see higher future contact, right? More charges, you know, more felonies being filed against those folks. And, you know, when you look at the data, it's pretty clear that's just that's not true. That doesn't happen at all," he said. 

In the first six months following this change, there were 1,500 more people released under the reforms. Following them for three years, Heaton found a 6% decrease in prosecutions that would be expected based on historical trends. Not only that, but things like guilty pleas and time served also dropped.  

Doug Griffith is the president of the Houston Police Union and he’s been an outspoken opponent of bail reform.  

"We completely agree with the fact that you shouldn't be in jail just because you're poor, on misdemeanor charges. Now felony charges are a different animal," said Griffith. 

Griffith points to the substantial rise in homicides in Houston and across the country over the past two years.  

Houston’s homicide rate jumped by 42% and 17% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Nationwide, the FBI reported a 30% rise in homicides in 2020.  

"As the bond reform for the misdemeanors went about it kind of transitioned and got sucked into the felony bond system, which was not the intent. It's been a disastrous program that's been shoved into Harris County that has cost lives," he said.  

Griffith claims judges in Harris County have been too lenient on repeat offenders, particularly those charged with violent felonies.    

SEE MORE: Curbing People With Mental Illness Away From Jail

"Misdemeanor bail has worked. Now, if you want to ask, has some judge made a mistake? Have they had a chance to push the reset button? Would they do something different? I'm sure that is the case," said Harris County commissioner Rodney Ellis.

Ellis was one of the first public officials in the county to throw his support behind bail reform.  

And while the reform he supported specifically targeted misdemeanor offenders, he says some of the same principles apply for felony cases.  

"If you believe in equal protection under the law, if you and I have the same profile, whether we are accused of a misdemeanor, or felony, the same standards apply to both of us," said Ellis. 

He said the rise in homicides in Houston has nothing to do with bail.  

"I think the big issue is a proliferation of easy access to guns. We spend more time banning books in schools than banning guns, but it's easier to go for the sound bite and blame everything on bail," said Ellis. 

For Marcella Dake, who lost her job and seven months of her freedom because she couldn’t afford bail, she’s still putting the pieces back together. 

"It took my time away. You know, for me pursuing to do better for myself. It took put a stop on my life, you know that hold on all my life," said Dake. 

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As smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts to the US, several states under air quality alerts

Drifting smoke, air quality concerns prompting beach closures, warnings about reduced visibility and calls to stay indoors.

Updated: 12:11 AM EDT Jun 28, 2023

Nouran Salahieh and Joe Sutton, CNN

Over 80 million people from the Midwest to the East Coast are under air quality alerts as smoke from the Canadian wildfires sweep across the U.S. border Tuesday, prompting beach closures, warnings about reduced visibility and calls to stay indoors.Canada is seeing its worst fire season on record with hundreds of wildfires raging across the country – more than 200 of them burning "out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The wildfires have led to the highest emissions on record for the country, according to a Tuesday report from Copernicus.Video above: The kind of air conditioner filter you need to filter smoke from your homeAs smoke crosses into the U.S., air quality alerts have been issued for the entire states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Delaware and Maryland as well are portions of Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia, according to the National Weather Service. Residents are being advised to stay indoors with their air conditioning running or wear N95 masks if they have to be outside.Chicago had the worst air quality in the world Tuesday evening, according to IQAir. The city's Air Quality Index measured at 193 – a high reading designated as "unhealthy."The city has asked all residents – especially those with heart or lung disease, older adults, pregnant people and young children – to avoid outdoor activities and protect themselves from exposure. Chicago Public Schools and camps are also moving activities indoors, city officials said in a news release.Video below: Homemade air purifier can protect against wildfire smoke inside at homeAbout 11 miles away, Evanston, Illinois, is closing all swimming beaches and canceling a concert Tuesday due to the poor air quality, the city said on Facebook, asking residents to limit outdoor exposure through Wednesday. Across the state line in Michigan, the Mackinac Bridge stood covered with smoke Tuesday. Drivers were asked to drive slow and with caution due to the reduced visibility on the bridge. Detroit, Michigan, had the second worst air quality in the world Tuesday evening, with an "unhealthy" Air Quality Index is at 174, according to IQAir.High levels of fine particulate in the air in Michigan could become unhealthy or hazardous for all residents at some points – not just sensitive groups, the state's health department warned. "The most protective option when air is unhealthy for you is to stay indoors with air conditioning, reduce strenuous activities and limit outdoor activities. If you have to be outside, N95 masks offer enhanced protection when used according to product instructions," the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.Indianapolis drivers were also warned about reduced visibility, with the National Weather Service saying to "be prepared for haze that could suddenly reduce visibilities" in some areas Tuesday and Wednesday.Video below: Canada's provinces, territories sign on to national climate adaptation strategyNew York is also expected to see unhealthy levels of smoke return Wednesday and Thursday to some areas – about three weeks after New York City topped the list of the world's worst air pollution as smoke from the Canadian wildfires wafted south, turning skies orange. "New Yorkers should be prepared for elevated levels of fine particulate pollution caused by smoke on Wednesday and Thursday," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "Current projections show the highest concentrations of smoke will slowly push east across the eastern half of New York State during the day Thursday, extending across much of the state."In Ohio, a spokesperson for the Cleveland's mayor's office said "what happened in NY a few weeks ago and Chicago today may happen here in Cleveland tomorrow."The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency issued an air quality advisory, forecasting fine particulate levels in the "Unhealthy" Air Quality Index range.Wildfire smoke carries particulate matter, or PM2.5 – a tiny but dangerous pollutant that, when inhaled, can travel deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The particulate matter has been linked to a number of health problems including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses.

1 dead, at least 20 hurt in a shooting at a Juneteenth celebration in Illinois, police say

Updated: 9:17 AM EDT Jun 18, 2023

At least 20 people were injured and one person died in a shooting overnight at a Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, Illinois, police say.Some of the injured were transported to hospitals by ambulance and others walked in, DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson told reporters Sunday.Ten patients were transported to four hospitals with injuries ranging from graze wounds to more serious gunshot wounds, and two people were in critical condition, Joe Ostrander, battalion chief of the Tri-State Fire Protection District said earlier. At least 12 ambulances responded to the scene, Ostrander added.Witnesses say the shooting took place around 12:30 a.m. in a parking lot in Willowbrook, about 21 miles west of Chicago. The motive behind the shooting is unclear and it is still an active investigation, Swanson said.

STREATOR, Ill. — A Golden Retriever is back home safe after getting trapped in a sinkhole.

The dog named Macy was discovered after another dog led its owner to the hole at a park in Illinois.

"This dog had fell into a five-foot hole, who has been missing for about 24 hours, from what I understand.” said Fred McClellan, Chief of the Streator Fire Department.

Firefighters were called in.

They tried getting Macy out with a ladder, but the older dog could not climb it.

That’s when the fire chief went into the hole himself and wrapped webbing around Macy so the rescue team could pull her out.

The team had to maneuver around, due to the unsteady ground.

"If you can see me falling. It was because the ground started to break on my one foot underneath, so I stepped across the hole to grab and then it collapsed again,” said McClellan.

Once Macy was free, she was a bit shaken.

But she is in much better spirits after reuniting with her owner.

AUSTIN, Tex. — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Facebook owner, Meta.

Paxton alleges that Meta illegally collected users’ biometric data, including facial recognition technology, without their consent.

The lawsuit goes on to accuse Meta of sending the information to others for profit.

According to the suit, Facebook violated a Texas law that requires people to get permission before capturing a person’s biometric information.

The suit also alleges that Facebook failed to destroy the data in a reasonable amount of time, which violates state law.

The Attorney General’s Office says Facebook violated state law billions of times.

Meta is also accused of violating Texas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act because it reportedly misled users.

There is a $25,000 penalty for each unlawful capturing of a biometric identifier.

The lawsuit asks for an additional $10,000 civil penalty for each violation.

Paxton estimates that the penalties could add up to billions of dollars.

This lawsuit out of Texas is similar to another suit out of Illinois in 2021, where Facebook was accused of using its Tag Suggestions tool to store users’ biometric data without their consent.

The suit ended with a class action privacy settlement.

Facebook was ordered to pay $650 million.

Meta has not commented on the recent lawsuit in Texas.

LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. (AP) — Police rescued an 80-year-old suburban Chicago woman who was held hostage for nearly 21 hours in large part because she couldn't text one of her daughters her daily Wordle score during the ordeal.

Denyse Holt and her oldest daughter, Meredith Holt-Caldwell, told reporters that Holt woke up about 1 a.m. Sunday to find a bloody and naked man armed with scissors in her Lincolnwood home.

Holt says the man eventually barricaded her in a basement bathroom.

During that time, she couldn't communicate with the outside world or update her daughter as she usually does about her score on the popular online word game.

Holt-Caldwell, who lives in Seattle, asked Lincolnwood police to make a well-being check.

Officers rescued her mother, and a SWAT team arrested the man.

According to the Associated Press, 32-year-old James H. Davis III had to be subdued with a stun gun after officers found him armed with knives in an upstairs bedroom.

Cook County Jail records show that the Chicago man remains in custody Friday and is held without a bond.

According to the Lincolnwood Police Department arrest logs, Davis was arrested for aggravated kidnapping and home invasion.

Several Illinois deputies are being hailed as heroes after their body cameras captured them rescuing two people from a burning home.

On Jan. 31, Kendall County Sheriff's Office Deputies Tyler Giannotti and Jacquie Mielke assisted the Montgomery Police Department and Oswego Fire Protection District on a structure fire when they heard calls for help from the back of the residence.

The department said that the two deputies found two people calling out from the second-floor window and were able to help them escape by catching them as they jumped out the window.

"Deputy Giannotti broke the fall of the first occupant and was able to call to the second person to then jump to safety," the department said.

Another deputy who had rushed to the scene, Deputy Sam Markusic, could get the two occupants safely away from the burning building.

According to ABC7, the average age of the deputies is 28, and they have a combined 4 1/2 years of experience on the force.

The deputies were treated for exposure to the fire and smoke and released.

"Deputies Giannotti, Mielke, and Markusic were able to work together with one another as well as with local police and fire agencies to ensure a horrible tragedy did not occur," Sheriff Baird said in a press release. "It is this strong bond with our community and the great partnerships with all of the area police and fire departments that produce these positive outcomes."

A gunman opened fire inside an Illinois bowling alley, killing three people and injuring three others Saturday night in what authorities believe was a random attack.

Police later said a 37-year-old man was taken into custody and no other people were being sought at the time after the attack at Don Carter Lanes.

Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea said during a news conference that he did not think any officers fired their weapons.

Two of those who were shot were teenagers, O'Shea said.

The Rockford Register Star reported that 2020 has been the city's deadliest year for homicides, according to records that date back to 1965. Thirty-five people have been killed in the city this year, breaking the previous record of 31 in 1996.

Rockford is about 80 miles northwest of Chicago.

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — An Illinois man in his 80s died after contracting rabies from a bat that apparently bit him while sleeping in his home.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says the Lake County resident awoke to a bat on his neck in mid-August. The animal was captured and officials say it tested positive for rabies. Additionally, wildlife experts found a bat colony in the home.

The man was advised that he needed to start being treated for rabies, but he reportedly declined. A month later, he began experiencing symptoms consistent with rabies, including neck pain, headache, difficulty controlling his arms, finger numbness, and difficulty speaking. And he later died, according to the department of health.

Officials say those who had contact with secretions from the individual were assessed and given rabies preventive treatment as needed.

“Rabies has the highest mortality rate of any disease,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike in a statement. “However, there is life-saving treatment for individuals who quickly seek care after being exposed to an animal with rabies. If you think you may have been exposed to rabies, immediately seek medical attention and follow the recommendations of health care providers and public health officials.”

This was the first human case of rabies reported by the state of Illinois since 1954. While cases of human rabies in the U.S. are rare, officials say exposures are still common with an estimated 60,000 Americans receiving the post-exposure vaccination series each year.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. Without preventive treatment, rabies is typically fatal.

Officials say people usually know when they have been bitten by a bat, but the animals have very small teeth and the bite mark may not be easy to see. If you find yourself near a bat and are not sure if you were exposed, don’t release it as it should be captured for rabies testing. Call your doctor or local health department to determine if you could have been exposed to rabies and if you need preventive treatment. And call your local animal care and control to safely remove the bat.

Video above from 2020: Hundreds of Thousands of Bats Wreak Havoc

A man in northeastern Illinois died from rabies about a month after apparently being infected by a bat he found in his room, marking the first human case of the virus in the state since 1954, health officials said Tuesday.

The man, who was in his 80s, woke up last month and found a bat on his neck in his Lake County, Illinois, home. After the bat tested positive for rabies, the man declined postexposure treatment, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said in a news release.

About a month after his exposure, the man started suffering from neck pain, headache, numbness in his fingers, difficulty controlling his arms and trouble speaking, health officials said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the man's diagnosis after testing at its lab.

Wildlife experts found a bat colony in the man's home, IDPH said.

"Rabies has the highest mortality rate of any disease," IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in the news release. "However, there is life-saving treatment for individuals who quickly seek care after being exposed to an animal with rabies."

The rabies virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, including through the saliva or brain and nervous system tissue, according to the CDC. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system, causing a brain disease that can lead to death without treatment, the CDC explained.

Human rabies infections are rare in the United States, with one to three cases reported each year, IDPH said. Still, an estimated 60,000 Americans receive the post-exposure vaccination series each year.

Illinois public health officials caution that even though people are usually aware when they have been bitten by a bat, they "have very small teeth and the bite mark may not be easy to see."

The state health department advises that people who come in close to a bat should not release it until it can be tested for rabies. People are also encouraged to contact their local health officials who can ascertain whether they have been exposed and what course of action is needed.

Most US rabies cases stem from bats, CDC says

A 2019 CDC report found that bats are the cause of seven out of 10 cases of rabies in the United States.

Researchers examined rabies trends in the U.S. over the span of 80 years, from 1938 to 2018. They found that most infections came from dog bites until 1960, when wildlife species — specifically bats — became the primary source for human infection. This followed nationwide efforts in the 1950s to mandate pet vaccines and implement leash control laws, the report stated.

The number of rabies deaths in the U.S. ranged from 30 to 50 per year in the 1940s but has dropped to one to three deaths per year. That's the result of routine pet vaccination and availability of post-exposure treatment.

In June, the CDC suspended the importation of dogs from more than 100 countries it deems as having a high rabies risk. The move affects dog rescue missions, imports from dog breeders and people bringing in pets, the CDC explained.

The decision was made based on a combination of factors, the CDC said, including the coronavirus pandemic, lack of facilities for quarantining dogs safely and three recent incidents of infected dogs that were brought into the country.

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Evanston, Illinois, has become the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.

The Chicago suburb’s City Council voted 8-1 late Monday to distribute $400,000 to eligible Black households.

Each qualifying household would receive $25,000 for home repairs or down payments on property.

The program is being funded through donations and a 3% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana.

Qualifying residents must either have lived in or been a direct descendant of a Black person who lived in Evanston between 1919 to 1969 and who suffered discrimination in housing because of city ordinances, policies or practices.

Learn more about the city's reparations here.